Local News

D.A. drops felony charge against Log Lane trustee

Says did not expect conviction in aiding-an-escape case

Morgan County District Court Judge Kevin Hoyer on Tuesday accepted the prosecutor's motion to dismiss a felony aiding-an-escape charge against a Log Lane Village trustee.

Sanjuana "Jeanie" Cardona, 53, had faced the single charge in connection with the escape of her former brother-in-law, Enrique Cardona, in December 2012.

Assistant District Attorney Hollie Wilkinson told the judge that while she believed Sanjuana Cardona had committed the crime as charged, she was unsure about being able to get a conviction.

Wilkinson said evidence that led to the arrest and the charge being filed indicated Enrique Cardona had spent about two hours at Sanjuana Cardona's house after escaping from custody, but that may not be enough for a jury to convict on the felony charge.

"In the interest of justice, we are moving to dismiss the matter," Wilkinson said.

After hearing Wilkinson move to drop the charges, Sanjuana Cardona thanked the assistant district attorney and the court.

She made no further comment about the case or its dismissal.

This effectively ends a case that had created some issues for Sanjuana Cardona in her role as a Log Lane trustee.

The court had issued a protection order that included not retaliating or harassing any witness in the case. Log Lane Town Marshal, and now Trustee, Fred Cook was the arresting officer in the case, so he fell under that protection order.